Guest Author
Just as Lata Mangeshkar is called reincarnation of Goddess Saraswati, Mohammed Rafi is called farishta/devta with his golden inimitable voice. Both singers dominated Indian film music from 1950 to 1975, and people born in that golden era were lucky to grow up listening to their songs on the radio.
Though Lataji died in 2022 at a ripe age of 92, Rafi Sahib died in 1980 at the young age of 55 while on the way to the hospital due to a massive heart attack. Thousands of music lovers all over the world had mourned Rafi Sahib’s sudden death and attended his funeral.
I am one of a few lucky souls who had met with both legends. Rafi Sahib performed a concert at New York’s famous Felt Forum in November 1979 after giving a concert the week before in Montreal. Since I was always the first one to buy highest priced ticket and also provide free photo service, the organizers liked me and gave me one of the best seats in the house.
At Rafi Sahib’s concert I was in an aisle seat in the second row on the left side of the stage along with Yash Chopra and his family members and had taken his autograph in my autograph book. I had a brief conversation with Yashji about songs of BR Films.
The auditorium was packed, and Rafi Sahib sang the first duet with Krishna Mukherji, who was the famous actress Rani Mukherji’s mother, but I did not know that at that time. After many years I learned that Yash Chopra and Ram Mukherji (Rani’s father) were close friends. On my left side a young girl in a nice dress in makeup and perfume was sitting (she could be Kajol), who had called me uncle and helped me one time when I was changing my lens. Years later when I found out that Krishna Mukherji was Rani Mukherji’s mom, I mailed a photo to her and received her thank you note along with a signed photo!
Rafi Sahib’s voice during the live performance was very similar to the voice we hear in recorded songs. I have a faint memory that comedian Mehmood also came on stage during one song and escorted Rafi Sahib from behind the podium and also danced with him.
I was also happy to hear the voice of then famous singer Hemlata, who had enchanted the audience with her songs in the films Chitchor, Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye and others. I don’t remember if she had sung a duet with Rafi Sahib in the first concert.
I remember vividly that Rafi Sahib’s eyes were fixed in our direction when he was singing. I captured one of my best photographs of Rafi Sahib during that time. Incidentally, I had sent an enlarged print of this photo to his son Shahid some 20 years later via another singer. He called me from Mumbai and told me that he will display my photo in Rafi Sahib’s room, which he had converted into a small museum of memorabilia.
After the concert ended four hours later, I drove back home to New Jersey. The next day I went to one hour lab and had my film rolls developed and printed in postcard size photos, which I had put together in an album. I then drove to Philadelphia where Rafi Sahib’s second concert was going to take place.
At this concert I had taken my 8mm film camera and three 50 feet rolls with me and had captured bits and pieces of the whole concert, especially when Rafi Sahib was dancing with Mehmood and Hemlata was singing “leto aye ho sapno ke gaon mein†a very melodious song which I often hum even today.
The best moment came when at the Philadelphia concert I met Rafi Sahib on stage in person during the interval. I shook his hand and talked about a few songs. I had given Rafi Sahib the photo album I had prepared for him, and he was quite pleased.
I had also gone with him backstage where his wife, son Shahid, brother-in-law Zaheer and actor David were sitting on a bench and took their photo. I did not know who they were at that time but a couple years ago when I showed this photo to Rafi’s Sahib’s grandson Fuzail at an event in Atlanta, he identified them.
Unfortunately, someone had stolen this album, because when I went to JFK airport the next day to send off Rafi Sahib, his wife had told me why did I take the album back? I then told Rafi Sahib that I would mail another album to his home in Mumbai.
At JFK airport Rafi Sahib was waiting in Maharaja Lounge with about a dozen well-wishers when I arrived. However, Rafi Sahib’s blood pressure suddenly went up and we were told to go outside. After about half an hour, Rafi Sahib came out. I noticed that he had removed his necktie, and his right arm was bent at the elbow.
I had forgotten to take my camera to the airport. However, I did take an LP Album called “This is Mohammed Rafi”, which is one of my favorite records. On one side has very melodious non-filmi songs and the other side non-filmi ghazals. When I showed it to Rafi Sahib and told him that it was one my favorite records, he was very pleased and immediately signed it for me.
I also met Hemlata at the airport and got her to sign the photo I had taken.
I often remember my meeting with the legendary Mohammed Rafi whenever I listen to his songs and will always cherish it until I die. In a future article, I will share my memories of meeting with Kishore Kumar.
Girish Modi is an 85-year-old retired engineer who is passionate about Indian music and classical dances. He donates money to various Indian organizations and provides free photo service. Contact: [email protected].
